"VAN" (Sports Desk - 20.10.2026) :: The Rowsellas began the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China on Monday in impressive style with all seven boats qualifying for their knockout rounds.
The event began Monday after Day 1 of racing on Sunday was cancelled due to winds making conditions unsafe. Racing was rescheduled to start on Day 2 with time trials on two ‘racetracks’ - Senior events on ‘Track A’ and Junior (U19) events on ‘Track B.
For the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, the Rowsellas have a Senior team of seven athletes across four events; and a Junior (U19) team of two athletes for three boats.
While the Rowsellas’ focus during the event is on the World Beach Sprint Finals, all eyes are also looking towards LA28 where Coastal Rowing makes its Olympic Games debut, with athletes competing through a national high-performance pathway backed by the enduring commitment of Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.
On Monday in tricky conditions, Australia automatically qualified in time trials for the knockouts of the Men’s and Women’s Coastal Solo, Mixed Double Sculls and Quadruple Sculls and U19 Women’s Coastal Solo categories. Through second time trials, Australia also qualified in the U19 Men’s Coastal Solo and U19 Mixed Double Sculls events.
Speaking on the Rowsellas’ performance, Rowing Australia Performance Director, Paul Thompson MBE said:
”There is no doubt that all the teams have been challenged by the challenging conditions, postponements and cancellations.
“Australia started the regatta well with all the crews racing to their potential which is testament to the rowers and to how well [RA Beach Sprint Head Coach] James Loveday, [RA Beach Sprint Lead Coach] Spencer Turrin and the support team have done in preparing the team.
“Of course, with Day 2 behind them the focus is now on the tomorrow's races.”
Rowing Australia Beach Sprint Head Coach James Loveday said:
”It was great to see all our crews execute some great time trials this morning to get into the knockout rounds.
“All athletes, boat handlers and coaches focused on their processes in some variable conditions. We're excited to see how they progress through the regatta.”
Monday’s races were on a ‘box course’ with a slalom leg to the first buoy and 90-degree turn, a straight run to a second buoy and 90-degree turn, and a straight sprint back.
The aim of the time trials was to finish in the first eight in the preliminary time trial - Time Trial 1 - to avoid racing Time Trial 2 for a place in the upcoming knockout rounds.
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